Like any other man trying to lead an NBA team past the brutal Western Conference playoffs, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers doesn't want distractions. Unfortunately for him though, he and his team are now facing one after their all-star Power Forward Blake Griffin got involved in a an alleged assault on a man going by the name of Daniel at a nightclub in Las Vegas in the early-morning hours Sunday.
According to the report, Griffin allegedly grabbed Daniel's cell phone away from him after he took pictures of the Clippers star inside the Tao nightclub. Griffin then allegedly grabbed the man behind his neck and slapped him. TMZ quoted Daniel as saying that Griffin "slapped me in the right side of my face."
Rivers made his comments on the incident after Wednesday night's 108-105 win against Phoenix at Staples Center, via the Los Angeles Daily News, and was asked if it should be a distraction to the team.
"It shouldn't be," said Rivers, whose team defeated the Suns 108-105 to improve to 2-5 in exhibition play. "Obviously, I don't know enough about it. It's an ongoing investigation, so I don't have a lot to say about it. I trust Blake a hundred percent. He's a great kid, and we'll figure it out and get through it."
Griffin seemed undistracted by the incident also as testament to his 35 point, 14-for-26 shooting, and seven rebound in 40 minutes performance against the Suns. He declined to make comment about the issue after the game. "I can't really right now," he said. "But when the time is right and I can, I will for sure."
The police spokesman assigned to the case said that he was not aware of any charges having been filed. The NBA has been made known of the incident and will conduct an investigation of their own.
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